CM reviews traffic situation: Any vehicle receiving repeated challans to be auctioned off

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif Friday chaired a high-level meeting, to review rising traffic problems across the province.

The meeting included detailed briefings on modern traffic management systems, road safety measures and submission of challan reports regarding helmet usage, roof-top passengers and other violations.

Officials concerned briefed CM Punjab that 20 major amendments have been introduced in Punjab’s six-decade-old Traffic Act. It was decided that any vehicle receiving repeated challans will be auctioned.

They further briefed that government vehicles involved in violations will face heavy penalties, reiterating that no one is above the law.

During the meeting, the Punjab government approved a 30-day grace period to eliminate one-way violations and directed to implement remodelling of U-turns to improve road safety. It was also agreed that ‘Diyat’ (compensation) for families of those killed in road accidents will be provided immediately.

The CM stressed that marriage halls without proper parking facilities will not be allowed to operate, adding that marriage halls must ensure organized parking arrangements.

The meeting also approved a province-wide crackdown against underage drivers.

Authorities concerned apprised that in case of underage driving, vehicle owner may face up to six months imprisonment. She directed to launch a strict crackdown on buses carrying passengers on rooftops.

During the meeting, officials apprised that in order to improve traffic flow and ensure public safety, a complete ban on Chingchi rickshaws will be enforced on five model roads in Lahore.

The CM fixed a 30-day deadline to streamline traffic situation in Lahore. She asserted that vehicles travelling to other cities at dangerously high speed to reach earlier will face stern action. “Traffic in Lahore and across all cities must be improved,” she noted. “There will be no discrimination, every violator will be fined. I am giving traffic police one last chance. If they fail, we will be compelled to create a new department,” she added.

She underscored that everything else has been fixed, yet traffic remains in a state of terrible disarray. She highlighted that continuous violations and disorder on roads reflect a weak writ of the state.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025